Terrell Suggs has a torn right biceps, still seeking second opinion

Terrell Suggs runs off the field at M&T Bank Stadium with an apparent arm injury.

Terrell Suggs runs off the field at M&T Bank Stadium with an apparent arm injury. (Getty photo)

Aaron Wilson and Jeff ZrebiecThe Baltimore Sun

Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs confirmed Monday night that he has a torn right biceps, but emphasized he is seeking a second opinion on the extent of the injury.

When asked if he would be able to play Sunday against the Washington Redskins, Suggs told The Baltimore Sun, "We'll see, maybe. Maybe not."

Suggs' status for the next couple of games remains uncertain after he suffered the injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, but Ravens coach John Harbaugh said earlier Monday he is “encouraged” that the injury is not long-term.

Suggs will be further evaluated to determine the severity of the injury.

“We don’t know the extent of it,” Harbaugh said. “We have an idea what it is. It needs to be evaluated as far as coming back and possibly playing this week or not. We just have to see where it is at and we should know by [Tuesday] or Wednesday what it is.”

It's not unheard of to play through such an injury, a couple of players including, Miami Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby is currently playing with a torn biceps muscle.

Playing in his sixth game since his surprisingly quick return from a torn Achilles suffered in late April, Suggs hurt his arm with a little more than 5 minutes to go in the fourth quarter and he did not return. On the play, Suggs got around the corner past right tackle Kelvin Beachum and extended his right arm in an attempt to tackle Steelers running back Isaac Redman (Bowie State). Redman ran through the arm tackle before getting stopped by Pernell McPhee for a 1-yard gain.

Clearly in pain, Suggs immediately clutched his right arm as he headed toward the sideline, where he was immediately met by head athletic trainer Mark Smith team doctor Leigh Ann Curl. The scene certainly brought back unpleasant memories for the Ravens who watched middle linebacker Ray Lewis head off the field in a similar way seven weeks earlier and later was diagnosed with a torn triceps muscle.

While Harbaugh also said that there has been no definitive word, he acknowledged that the early indications have provided at least some hope that the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year may not be out for long.

“I think we are encouraged that it may not be [long-term],” Harbaugh said. “We’ll just have to see. If I knew that for sure, if I could say that for sure, I would. I just can’t right now but we have some encouragement there.”

Losing Suggs for any length of time would be another blow to the Ravens’ defense which couldn’t hold a 13-3 lead Sunday and allowed a Charlie Batch-led offense to wrack up 366 total yards. Batch, the Steelers’ third-string quarterback who turns 38 on Wednesday, completed 25-of-36 passes for 276 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Batch hit tight end Heath Miller on a 7-yard touchdown to tie the game at 20 with 7:24 left in the fourth quarter and then he led a 12-play, 61-yard drive that resulted in Shaun Suisham’s game-winning, 42-yard field goal as time expired.

Before his injury, Suggs had two tackles in the game, including one for a loss, but like his teammates, he wasn’t able to apply consistent pressure on Batch who was sacked only twice in 36 dropbacks.

In six games, Suggs, who the team feared was done for the season when he had Achilles surgery in May, had 19 total tackles, two sacks and four passes defended. Along with upgrading the Ravens’ run defense with his ability to set the edge, Suggs, even while working his way back in shape and clearly lacking his normal explosiveness, has provided a defensive presence for a unit that has struggled for much of the season.

Asked about the impact of Suggs’ potential loss, McPhee said Sunday, “We just got to man up. We’ve been fighting injuries all year.”

The Ravens already are playing without inside linebackers Lewis and Dannell Ellerbe, along with cornerbacks Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith. Webb (anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus tear in left knee) is only one who is certain to be out for the rest of the season.

Lewis, whose quick return from the triceps injury mirrored Suggs’ surprising comeback, potentially could practice this week but isn’t eligible to play in a game until Dec. 16 against the Denver Broncos.

Ellerbe, one of the team’s top tacklers who is dealing with injuries to his ankle, foot and both of his thumbs, missed Sunday’s game and acknowledged that he wasn’t particularly close to playing. However, Harbaugh said Monday that he’s hopeful of getting him back against the Redskins.

Smith had surgery on a sports hernia about 2 1/2 weeks ago and Harbaugh said that he’s making steady progress though he isn’t expected to be ready by this weekend.jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.comBaltimore Sun reporter Aaron Wilson and columnist Mike Preston contributed to this article.